Bullet Train Project: ‘Giant’ project of bullet train 130 feet underground! Assembling of second TBM begins; See how the excavation will be done

• ‘Giant’ bullet train project 130 feet underground!
• Assembling of second TBM begins
• See how the excavation will be done

Surya Prakash Mishra/Mumbai: Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train Work on a 21 km long subway tunnel has started in Maharashtra for the project. The construction of this section of the bullet train line and the ongoing work in Maharashtra in particular is considered to be the most challenging phase of the entire project. Here, tunnels are being built not only underground, but also under the bed of the creek.

Addition of second TBM at Sawli

Assembly of the second ‘Tunnel Boring Machine’ (TBM) has started at a depth of about 39 meters below the ground level at Savli site in Mumbai (near Ghansoli). This TBM will start its tunneling journey from Shavali towards Vikhroli. On Saturday, a ‘gantry’ weighing 190 metric tonnes was lowered into the shaft (well-like structure). Its length is 18 meters, width is 10 meters and height is 9 meters. Earlier, the first TBM was lowered to a depth of 56 meters below ground level at Vikhroli in Mumbai, a depth equal to the height of a 20-storey building. Both the TBMs will have a total of four gantries, which are connected to the main ‘shield assembly’ and ‘cutterhead’. These gantries will move alongside the TBMs through the completed sections of the tunnel; This will facilitate essential works such as excavation, waterproofing measures and installation of tunnel linings. Due to the limited space available in the shaft at Sawli, the TBM connection at a depth of 39 meters has been planned very strictly. Actual operation of the TBM is expected to begin in July 2026.

21 km long tunnel

For the bullet train project, a tunnel of about 21 km length is being constructed, extending from BKC (Bandre-Kurla Complex) in Mumbai to Shilphata in Thane. The earthquake-proof tunnel includes India’s first 7 km long underwater (undersea) tunnel, which passes under the Thane Bay floor. According to the information received, out of the total 21 km, 5 km long tunnel has already been completed using the ‘NATM’ (New Austrian Tunneling Method) method. The remaining 16 km work has now started. These tunnels will be constructed with the help of ‘Tunnel Boring Machines’ (TBMs).

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India’s first ‘tube tunnel’

It will be the country’s latest ‘single-tube tunnel’, which is being built underground especially for high-speed ‘bullet trains’. It will have two railway tracks. The tunnel will generally be at a depth of 25 to 57 meters below ground level; Also, the deepest point of its construction under Parsik Hill will reach 114 meters. The total length of this TBM is 95.32 meters and includes several important components such as cutter wheel, main bearing, jaw crusher, erector, main shield, tail shield and four special ‘gantry systems’ that speed up the tunneling process. To carry out the work safely and speedily from both ends simultaneously, two TBMs have been employed simultaneously. After the assembly of both TBMs is completed, the main work of tunneling is scheduled to begin in July; Also, it is expected that the shape of this tunnel will be clearly visible by October 2026.

Accelerating preparations to inaugurate the first phase in 2027

Preparations for starting the first phase of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project in the state of Gujarat have also picked up speed. A bullet train is planned to run between Surat and Bilimora in 2027. Out of total 508.17 km route, 384.04 km route is in Gujarat, 155.76 km route is in Maharashtra and 4.3 km route is in Dadra and Nagar Haveli. There will be a total of 12 stations on this bullet train route; Out of which 8 stations will be built in Gujarat and 4 stations in Maharashtra. However, there will be no station within the limits of Dadra and Nagar Haveli. Meanwhile, the speed of construction on the Maharashtra phase of this route has also increased. Work on the first underground bullet train station to be set up at BKC in Mumbai is also progressing rapidly. 2019 has been set as the target year to complete the 21 km long tunnel and station in Maharashtra.

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